Daringbadi: Frequent fear of landslides due to incessant rainfall here in Kandhamal district has turned commuting on the ghat road a risky proposition, sources said Tuesday. Daringbadi is a picturesque hill station in Kandhamal district. It is the favourite destination for tourists and is popularly known as ‘Kashmir of Odisha’.
However, continuous rainfall for the past few weeks has created panic in the minds of the residents in Sriniketa locality in this block. The ghat road has become unfit for commuting with crater-size potholes and uneven surfaces in many places. Residents of this town are apprehensive that incessant rainfall may lead to landslides resulting in loss of lives and properties. Earlier also landslides and floods had taken place in some areas of Ghat road.
Earlier this month and also in July several pine trees got uprooted due to the loose soil softened by rain and blocked different parts of the ghat road. Residents also pointed out that many of the other trees are on the verge of getting uprooted. The fear among them is palpable as many have stopped using the ghat road. They are now using alternative but lengthy routes for commuting from one place to another. Locals blamed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the current predicament. They informed us that the guard walls on the side of the ghat road have not been constructed in a proper manner. Hence there is always the looming fear of landslides and overflow of water. Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Satish Kumar Dharua, Baliguda sub-division said discussions have been held with the NHAI officials to protect the pine trees and conservation of soil on hills on both sides of the ghat road on the National Highway. The ACF said that the protection of pine trees is very important as they are a prime attraction for tourists.
Meanwhile, the expansion of the PWD road connecting Daringbadi with Brahmanigaon is currently on. The criss-cross road from Pangali to Daringbadi has been widened but the road which leads to the hilltop has developed craters. Residents, commuters, and tourists pointed out that unless proper repair work is carried out, landslides may occur anytime. Junior engineer Pradip Swain said that the repair work will be completed soon and guard walls will be constructed to free the area of danger of landslides.